As John Rooney walks out on to the beach by his hotel, his sunburned neck is already redder than a Manchester United jersey.
The top players took care of business on the big courts at Wimbledon, then found themselves immersed in the drama unfolding on little Court 18.
At rainy Wimbledon, the reigning champion shows signs of making another big splash. Amelie Mauresmo keeps moving forward, and her aggressive game has advanced her to the fourth round. ”I think it comes pretty naturally for me,” the Frenchwoman said.
The French Open started on a Sunday for the first time and nearly ended quickly for Maria Sharapova. The former Wimbledon champion overcame a gimpy foot, a 5-2 deficit in the third set and three match points to beat Mashona Washington 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.
When the call is close, the pro tennis tours want to take another look. The ATP and WTA Tours have decided to use television replays starting with the Nasdaq-100 Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, in two weeks, officials said on Monday. This year’s United States Open will be the first Grand Slam event to review disputed calls on videotape.
Roger Federer strengthened his claim to greatness on Sunday, winning his third consecutive Wimbledon title by beating Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6 (2), 6-4. With an impeccable performance, even by his high standards, the top-ranked Federer became the third man since 1936 to win three straight Wimbledon crowns, joining seven-time champion Pete Sampras and five-time winner Bjorn Borg.
An ominous development for the rest of the men’s field at Wimbledon: Marat Safin is beginning to find his footing on grass. The mercurial Russian overcame his career-long aversion to lawn tennis on Monday and beat Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
Justine Henin-Hardenne beat a visibly nervous Mary Pierce 6-1, 6-1 on Saturday to win the French Open, capping a remarkable comeback from a blood virus with her fourth grand-slam title and her second at Roland Garros. It was the most lopsided major final since Steffi Graf beat Natasha Zvereva 6-0, 6-0 to win the French Open in 1988.
As a teen prodigy, Rafael Nadal’s achievements match or surpass those of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Mats Wilander, suggesting that his first grand-slam title is unlikely to be his last. Few expect 19-year-old Nadal to become a one-slam wonder. He’s too big and strong, too cool and creative, too pugnacious and precocious.
Built like a boxer rather than a tennis player, Rafael Nadal is listed at 74kg in the annual ATP Tour media guide but actually weighs nearly 86kg. Just a growing boy, the Mallorcan says his muscular physique isn’t the result of any secret Mediterranean diet.